Gastric sleeve

When the weight reduction program of the obese persons does not give any satisfactory results and when they are progressing in their march to morbid obesity the surgeons may suggest surgical corrections. Surgical corrections have proved to be very successful in reducing the abnormal weight of obese persons within a reasonable time period of six months to one or two years. Gastric sleeve or sleeve gastrectomy is a newer bariatric surgery that is becoming very popular in the recent years.

What is done in this surgery?

The aim of this surgical procedure is to reduce the volume of the stomach by cutting and removing about 65 to 80 % of the lower portion of the stomach which results in reducing the craving for food thereby paving way for weight reduction. Only a tube like portion of the stomach will be remaining after the surgery which carries out the functions of the stomach. There is no cutting of small intestine or any other processes like applying a band or sleeve is involved in this surgery.
The important benefit of this surgery is that the small intestine and the pylorus which is the outlet valve of the stomach remain intact for carrying out the functions of stomach, but the volume of the stomach is reduced so that it can hold only a lesser volume of food. Another peculiarity of this surgery is that it removes the portion of the stomach from where ghrelin the hormone that stipulates appetite is produced enabling elimination of appetite.

Advantages of gastric sleeve

About 50 % of the weight is lost within one year of the procedure.

No disconnection or alteration of the intestine is involved in this procedure.

No foreign devices are introduced in the body in connection with this surgery.

Post surgery diet is less restrictive.

Which surgery is suitable for you?

After the surgery, drastic changes will take place in the eating pattern and the amount of food that the patient can eat. The patient may find it initially difficult to adjust to the new eating pattern. Once he becomes used to it, things will become much easier. As there are three or four surgical procedures which are followed by surgeons in their effort to find a solution to the problem of obesity, which of these procedures will be suitable for the patient has to be determined by the surgeons in consultation with the patient. There are positive and negative points for each surgery. Therefore before finalizing the procedure suitable for a particular patient it is better that the patient may study about the peculiarities of each of these surgeries or he can ask for clarifications from surgeon on different aspects of each of these procedures.